In a match of few real chances, the Police took the solitary one that came their way and withstood sustained periods of second half pressure to nick all three points.

With Ray Powell only fit to start from the bench, Dobla continued with Leroy Huggins alongside Jon Main up front and John Beales at right back. Steve May returned for a second loan spell from Brighton to deputise for the injured Lew Watts, and Dolby himself started in midfield in place of Danny Lye who was ill.

Tonbridge should have taken an early lead when Darren Smith freed Huggins down the right. The cross was a good one, but the unmarked Main directed it wide with Police 'keeper Stuart Mackenzie rooted to his line. Instead, it was the Police who snatched the lead on 14 minutes. Mikhail Czanner saved at the feet of Ian Batten, but the ball ran loose and after a frantic scramble in which two Police efforts came back off the crossbar, Batten finally clipped home from close range.

Both teams were playing with a high work rate and looked evenly matched. Huggins clipped the post, Dolby's volley from the edge of the box flew wide, then Mackenzie had to be at his best to close down Dolby's shot after Danny Glozier and Fraser Logan set up the opening. Tonbridge finished the half looking the stronger, and the introduction of Jay May for Dolby at the interval signalled the Angels' intentions for the second half.

The Police were penned back for long stretches, but the Angels couldn't quite find the touch of quality or luck needed to unlock a determined Met defence. Despite the pressure, Mackenzie was rarely in action.

Jay May flashed a shot across the face of goal when Mackenzie dropped a long throw with 20 minutes left, then Beales nicked the ball away from Kevin Cooper before he could set himself to shoot in a rare Met attack. Main skipped through a couple of tackles to get close in with ten minutes to go, but Mackenzie was able to collect at his feet in what proved to be the Angels last hurrah.

Report by: Tony Browne